Touch display apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a touch sensitive display apparatus which decreases a load of each of a plurality of touch electrodes and reduces a load deviation between the plurality of touch electrodes, thereby enhancing image quality. The touch sensitive display apparatus comprises a touch sensitive panel. The touch panel comprises a plurality of touch electrodes comprising at least a first touch electrode. The first touch electrode comprises a plurality of first touch electrode lines that are parallel to each other. A first touch signal line is connected to the plurality of first touch electrode lines of the first touch electrode, and the first touch electrode is driven for image display and touch sensing via the first touch signal line. A first connecting line is in a different layer than the first touch electrode lines, and the first connecting line is connected to the plurality of first touch electrode lines.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/366,856 filed on Dec. 1, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/983,546 filed on Dec. 30, 2015, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,766,764 issued on Sep. 19, 2017, which claims the benefit ofRepublic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2015-0015517 filed on Jan.30, 2015 and also Republic of Korea Patent Application No.10-2015-0143597 filed on Oct. 14, 2015, all of which are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a touch sensitive apparatus whichdecreases a load of each of a plurality of touch electrodes and reducesa load deviation between the plurality of touch electrodes, therebyenhancing image quality.

Discussion of the Related Art

Instead of an input device such as a mouse, a keyboard, or the likewhich is conventionally applied as an input device of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) apparatus, flat panel display apparatuses, a touch panelthat enables a user to directly input information with a finger or a penis applied to LCD apparatuses. Since all users can easily manipulate thetouch screen, the application of the touch panel is being expanded.

Touch panels are categorized into a resistive type, a capacitance type,an infrared type, etc. depending on a touch sensing method. Recently,since the capacitance type provides convenience in a manufacturingprocess and is good in touch sensitivity, the capacitance type isattracting much attention. Capacitive touch panels are categorized intoa mutual capacitance type and a self-capacitance type.

Recently, an in-cell touch type panel where a capacitive touch sensor isbuilt into a liquid crystal panel has been developed for slimming LCDapparatuses to which a touch screen is applied. In-cell touch sensitiveapparatuses use a common electrode, which is disposed on a thin filmtransistor (TFT) array substrate, as a touch sensor. In the followingdescription, a touch sensitive panel denotes that a touch sensor isbuilt into a liquid crystal panel in the in-cell touch type. Also,sensing of touch electrodes is performed in the self-capacitance type.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a related art in-celltouch type touch sensitive apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a diagramillustrating a connection structure between a self-capacitive touchelectrode and a touch signal line.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the related art in-cell touch type touchsensitive apparatus includes a touch sensitive panel, a touch driver 30,a display driver (not shown), and a backlight unit (not shown).

The touch sensitive panel includes a TFT array substrate and a colorfilter array substrate which are bonded to each other with a liquidcrystal layer therebetween. A common electrode disposed on the TFT arraysubstrate is patterned as a plurality of blocks, and thus, a pluralityof touch electrodes 10 are provided. In FIG. 1, it is illustrated as anexample that twenty touch electrodes 10 are disposed in a horizontaldirection, and thirty touch electrodes 10 are disposed in a verticaldirection in the touch sensitive panel, namely, a total of 600 touchelectrodes 10 are disposed in the touch sensitive panel.

The related art in-cell touch type touch sensitive apparatus divides oneframe period into a display period and a touch period and performsdisplay driving and touch driving in a time division method.

During the display period, the related art in-cell touch type touchsensitive apparatus supplies a data voltage to a pixel electrode andsupplies a common voltage (Vcom) to the plurality of touch electrodes10, thereby displaying an image. During the touch period, the relatedart in-cell touch type touch sensitive apparatus supplies a touchdriving signal to each of the plurality of touch electrodes 10 and thensenses a capacitance of each of the plurality of touch electrodes 10,thereby determining whether there is a touch and detecting a touchedposition.

The touch driver 30 includes a touch signal generator, a sensing unit,and a plurality of multiplexers 32.

The plurality of multiplexers 32 are for decreasing the number ofchannels of the touch driver 30, and the plurality of multiplexers 32having an input-to-output ratio of N:1 are disposed. Each of theplurality of touch electrodes 10 is connected to one touch signal line20, which is connected to a channel of a corresponding multiplexer 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a first touch electrode 12 a is connected to afirst touch signal line 22 a through a plurality of contacts CNT. Also,a second touch electrode 12 b is connected to a second touch signal line22 b through a plurality of contacts CNT. As described above, each ofthe plurality of touch electrodes is connected to a corresponding touchsignal line through a plurality of contacts CNT.

The touch driving signal output from the touch signal generator issupplied to each of the plurality of touch electrodes 10 via acorresponding multiplexer 32. Also, the sensing unit senses the amountof electric charge charged into each of the touch electrodes 10 todetermine whether there is a touch and detect a touched position.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a problem where image quality isdegraded due to a load deviation of a touch electrode.

Referring to FIG. 3, the touch driving signal is applied to the touchelectrode 12 a through the touch signal line 22 a, but a load deviationoccurs in one touch electrode. Also, a load deviation occurs between aplurality of touch electrodes. For this reason, image quality isdegraded.

For example, when twenty touch electrodes are arranged in a verticaldirection, a load deviation occurs between a first electrode 12 a, atenth touch electrode 12 b, and a twentieth touch electrode 12 c. Thatis, when a touch electrode is close to a contact CNT that connects thetouch electrode and a corresponding touch signal line, a load of thetouch electrode is small, but as a touch electrode becomes farther awayfrom a contact CNT that connects the touch electrode and a correspondingtouch signal line, a load of the touch electrode increases.

When a load deviation occurs in one touch electrode and between aplurality of touch electrodes, a difference occurs in a time taken untilthe common electrode (Vcom) ripples and then returns to an originalvoltage value, and due to such a time difference, a difference of rootmean square (RMS) values of voltages between regions occurs in a wholescreen. For this reason, image quality is degraded.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to provide a touchsensitive apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems dueto limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An aspect of the present invention is directed to provide a touchsensitive apparatus which reduces a load of a touch electrode, therebyenhancing image quality.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to provide a touchsensitive apparatus which reduces a load deviation of a touch electrode,thereby enhancing image quality.

In addition to the aforesaid objects of the present invention, otherfeatures and advantages of the present invention will be describedbelow, but will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art fromdescriptions below.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and in part will become apparentto those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned from practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there isprovided a touch sensitive apparatus including a touch sensitive panelwhere a plurality of touch electrodes are disposed, a touch driverconfigured to supply a touch driving signal to the plurality of touchelectrodes and sense an amount of electric charge of each of theplurality of touch electrodes during a touch period, and a plurality oftouch signal lines configured to respectively connect the plurality oftouch electrodes to a plurality of channels included in the touchdriver. Here, each of the plurality of touch electrodes may include aplurality of slits and may be disposed in a mesh form.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, one touch signal line may be disposed to overlap theplurality of slits.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the plurality of slits may be disposed in anon-display area.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touchsensitive apparatus including a touch sensitive panel where a pluralityof touch electrodes are disposed, a touch driver configured to supply atouch driving signal to the plurality of touch electrodes and sense anamount of electric charge of each of the plurality of touch electrodesduring a touch period, a plurality of touch signal lines configured torespectively connect the plurality of touch electrodes to a plurality ofchannels included in the touch driver, and a plurality of connectinglines respectively connected to the plurality of touch electrodes.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, one touch signal line may be connected to acorresponding touch electrode through a plurality of first contacts, andone touch electrode may be connected to at least two connecting linesthrough a plurality of second contacts.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the plurality of connecting lines may be disposednear the plurality of touch signal lines.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the plurality of first connecting lines may be spacedapart from the plurality of second connecting lines.

In one embodiment, a touch sensitive display apparatus comprises a touchsensitive panel. The touch panel comprises a plurality of touchelectrodes comprising at least a first touch electrode. The first touchelectrode comprises a plurality of first touch electrode lines that areparallel to each other. A first touch signal line is connected to theplurality of first touch electrode lines of the first touch electrode,and the first touch electrode is driven for image display and touchsensing via the first touch signal line. A first connecting line is in adifferent layer than the first touch electrode lines, and the firstconnecting line is connected to the plurality of first touch electrodelines.

In one embodiment, a data line carries a data voltage to at least onepixel of the display panel. The data line is in a different layer thanthe first connecting line, is oriented in a same direction as the firstconnecting line and overlaps with the first connecting line. In oneembodiment, the first touch signal line and the first connecting lineare of a same material and located in a same layer.

In one embodiment, the first touch electrode is comprised of a firstmaterial, and the first connecting line is comprised of a secondmaterial having lower resistance than the first material. For example,the first touch electrode is comprised of indium tin oxide (ITO), andthe first connecting line is comprised of metal having resistivity whichis lower than that of ITO.

In one embodiment, the first touch electrode comprises a slit, and thefirst connecting line overlaps with the slit. The display panel may alsocomprise a pixel having a thin film transistor, wherein the firstconnecting line overlaps with the thin film transistor.

In one embodiment, the plurality of first touch electrode lines areperpendicular to the first touch signal line and the first connectingline.

In one embodiment, the display panel further comprises a secondconnecting line in a different layer than the first touch electrodelines and perpendicular to the first touch electrode lines, the secondconnecting line connected to the plurality of first touch electrodelines.

In one embodiment, the display panel further comprises a second touchelectrode of the plurality of touch electrodes, the second touchelectrode comprising a plurality of second touch electrode lines thatare parallel to each other. A second touch signal line is connected tothe plurality of second touch electrode lines of the second touchelectrode, the second touch electrode driven for image display and touchsensing via the second touch signal line. A second connecting line is ina different layer than the second touch electrode lines, the secondconnecting line connected to the plurality of second touch electrodelines.

In one embodiment, a driver circuit drives the display panel in adisplay period and a touch period. The driver circuit supplies a commonvoltage for image display to the first touch electrode via the firsttouch signal line during the display period, and supplies a touchdriving signal to the first touch electrode via the first touch signalline during the touch period.

In one embodiment, the first connecting line is connected to theplurality of first touch electrode lines via a plurality of firstcontacts. Additionally, the plurality of first contacts are in contactholes in an insulation layer between the first connecting line and thefirst touch electrode lines.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a related art in-celltouch type touch sensitive apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection structure between aself-capacitive touch electrode and a touch signal line;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a problem where image quality isdegraded due to a load deviation of a touch electrode;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a touch sensitiveapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a touch sensitive apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention and is a diagram illustrating anarrangement structure of a touch electrode and a touch signal line;

FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the touch sensitive apparatus according tothe first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagramillustrating an arrangement structure of the touch electrode and thetouch signal line illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a touch sensitive apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention and is a diagram illustrating anarrangement structure of a touch electrode, a touch signal line, and aconnecting line;

FIG. 8 illustrates in detail the touch sensitive apparatus according tothe second embodiment of the present invention and is a diagramillustrating an arrangement structure of the touch electrode, the touchsignal line, and the connecting line illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a cross-sectional surfacetaken along line Y-Y′ of FIG. 8, and particularly, is an exemplarydiagram illustrating a lower substrate of the display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

In the specification, it should be noted that like reference numeralsalready used to denote like elements in other drawings are used forelements wherever possible. In the following description, when afunction and a configuration known to those skilled in the art areirrelevant to the essential configuration of the present invention,their detailed descriptions will be omitted. The terms described in thespecification should be understood as follows.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and implementationmethods thereof will be clarified through following embodimentsdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The presentinvention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention tothose skilled in the art. Furthermore, the present invention is onlydefined by scopes of claims.

In the specification, in adding reference numerals for elements in eachdrawing, it should be noted that like reference numerals already used todenote like elements in other drawings are used for elements whereverpossible.

A shape, a size, a ratio, an angle, and a number disclosed in thedrawings for describing embodiments of the present invention are merelyan example, and thus, the present invention is not limited to theillustrated details. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, when the detailed descriptionof the relevant known function or configuration is determined tounnecessarily obscure the important point of the present invention, thedetailed description will be omitted. In a case where ‘comprise’,‘have’, and ‘include’ described in the present specification are used,another part may be added unless ‘only˜’ is used. The terms of asingular form may include plural forms unless referred to the contrary.

In construing an element, the element is construed as including an errorrange although there is no explicit description.

In describing a position relationship, for example, when a positionrelation between two parts is described as ‘on˜’, ‘over˜’, ‘under˜’, and‘next˜’, one or more other parts may be disposed between the two partsunless ‘just’ or ‘direct’ is used.

In describing a time relationship, for example, when the temporal orderis described as ‘after˜’, ‘subsequent˜’, ‘next˜’, and ‘before˜’, a casewhich is not continuous may be included unless ‘just’ or ‘direct’ isused.

The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example,the meaning of “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a thirditem” denotes the combination of all items proposed from two or more ofthe first item, the second item, and the third item as well as the firstitem, the second item, or the third item.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Features of various embodiments of the present invention may bepartially or overall coupled to or combined with each other, and may bevariously inter-operated with each other and driven technically as thoseskilled in the art can sufficiently understand. The embodiments of thepresent invention may be carried out independently from each other, ormay be carried out together in co-dependent relationship.

LCD devices have been variously developed in a twisted nematic (TN)mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, an in-plane switching (IPS) mode,and a fringe field switching (FFS) mode depending on to a method ofadjusting the alignment of liquid crystal.

Among the modes, the TN mode and the VA mode are modes in which a pixelelectrode is disposed on a lower substrate, and a common electrode isdisposed on an upper substrate (a color filter array substrate), therebyadjusting the alignment of liquid crystal with a vertical electricfield.

The IPS mode and the FFS mode are modes in which a pixel electrode and acommon electrode are disposed on a lower substrate, and the alignment ofliquid crystal is adjusted with an electric field between the pixelelectrode and the common electrode.

The IPS mode is a mode in which a plurality of pixel electrodes and aplurality of common electrodes are alternately arranged in parallel, andthus, a lateral electric field is generated between a pixel electrodeand a common electrode adjacent to each other, thereby adjusting thealignment of liquid crystal.

The FFS mode is a mode in which a pixel electrode and a common electrodeare provided in plurality to be spaced apart from each other with aninsulating layer therebetween. In this case, one electrode of the pixelelectrodes and common electrodes are formed in a plate shape or apattern, and the other electrode is formed in a finger shape. The FFSmode is a mode that adjusts the alignment of liquid crystal with fringefields generated between the pixel electrodes and common electrodes.

A mode of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is not limited, and a vertical alignment mode (the TN mode andthe VA mode) and an in-plane switching mode (the IPS mode and the FFSmode) may be applied to the touch panel according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. In this disclosure below, the IPS mode or the FFSmode may be applied to the touch panel according to an embodiment of thepresent invention for example.

Hereinafter, a touch sensitive apparatus according to embodiments of thepresent invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a touch sensitiveapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the touch sensitive apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention may include a touch sensitive panel100, a touch driver 200, a display driver 300, and a backlight unit. InFIG. 4, the backlight unit is not illustrated.

The touch sensitive panel 100 may include a thin film transistor (TFT)array substrate, a color filter array substrate, and a liquid crystallayer disposed therebetween.

A plurality of pixels (not shown) may be arranged on the TFT arraysubstrate in a matrix type. Also, a plurality of RGB color filters maybe disposed on the color filter array substrate to respectivelycorrespond to the plurality of pixels, and a plurality of black matrixesthat define respective opening areas of the plurality of pixels andprevent colors from being mixed with each other may be disposed on thecolor filter array substrate.

The plurality of pixels may be defined by a plurality of data lines anda plurality of gate lines which intersect each other. A TFT, a pixelelectrode, and a storage capacitor (Cst) may be disposed in each of aplurality of areas defined by intersections of the data lines and thegate lines. Also, a plurality of touch electrodes 110 may be disposed.The pixel electrode and a common electrode may each be formed of atransparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and/orthe like.

In the present embodiment, the common electrode may be used as the touchelectrode 10, in addition to an electrode for displaying an image. Tothis end, the plurality of touch electrodes 110 may be provided bypatterning the common electrode in units of pixels.

For example, twenty touch electrodes 110 are disposed in a horizontaldirection, and thirty-two touch electrodes 110 are disposed in avertical direction in the touch sensitive panel, namely, a total of 640touch electrodes 110 are disposed in the touch sensitive panel 100.However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, the number of the touch electrodes 110 disposed in thetouch sensitive panel 100 may be changed depending on a screen size anda setting of touch sensitivity.

Each of the touch electrodes 110 may be connected to a correspondingchannel of the touch driver 200 through a corresponding touch signalline 120 among a plurality of touch signal lines 120 which are eachformed of a conductive material. Each touch electrode 110 is shared by arespective block of pixels (not shown) and serves as the displayelectrode for the respective block of pixels. For an LCD display,voltage differences between the touch electrode 110 and pixel electrodesof the individual pixels create electrical fields. The electric fieldstwist the LCD crystals and allow light to pass through the pixels.

The touch sensitive apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may separately execute a display period and a touch period toperform an operation of displaying an image and an operation of sensinga touch. For example, the touch sensitive apparatus may divide one frameperiod into the display period and the touch period and may performdisplay driving and touch driving in a time division method.

During the display period, the touch sensitive apparatus may supply adata voltage to the pixel electrode and may supply a common voltage(Vcom) to the plurality of touch electrodes 110 via the touch signallines 120, thereby displaying an image. During the touch period, thetouch sensitive apparatus may supply a touch driving signal to each ofthe plurality of touch electrodes 110 via the touch signal lines 120 andthen may sense a capacitance charged into each of the plurality of touchelectrodes 110, thereby determining whether there is a touch anddetecting a touched position.

The display driver 300 may include a gate driver, a data driver, and atiming controller. All or some of the gate driver, the data driver, andthe timing controller may be disposed in the touch sensitive panel 100in a chip-on glass (COG) type or a chip-on film (COF, chip-on flexibleprinted circuit) type.

When the touch sensitive panel 100 is manufactured in a small size andis applied to a mobile device, the gate driver, the data driver, and thetiming controller may be implemented as one chip.

The gate driver may be integrated on a substrate of the liquid crystalpanel 100 in an amorphous silicon gate (ASG) type or a gate-in panel(GIP) type.

The timing controller may convert input RGB image signals intoframe-unit digital RGB image data and may supply the RGB image data tothe data driver according to a timing signal (TS). In this case, thetiming signal (TS) may include a vertical sync signal (V-sync), ahorizontal sync signal (H-sync), a clock signal (CLK), etc.

Moreover, the timing controller may generate a gate control signal (GCS)for controlling the gate driver by using the timing signal (TS) tosupply the gate control signal to the gate driver. The gate controlsignal (GCS) may include a gate start pulse (GSP), a gate shift clock(GSC), a gate output enable signal (GOE), etc.

Moreover, the timing controller may generate a data control signal (DCS)for controlling the data driver by using the timing signal (TS) and maysupply the data control signal to the data driver. Here, the datacontrol signal (DCS) may include a source start pulse (SSP), a sourcesampling clock (SSC), a source output enable signal (SOE), a polaritycontrol signal (POL), etc.

Moreover, the timing controller may supply a sync signal of each of thedisplay period and the touch period to the touch driver 200 in order forthe touch driver 200 to be driven during the touch period.

The gate driver may generate a gate driving signal for driving the TFTincluded in each of the plurality of pixels, based on the gate controlsignal (GCS) from the timing controller. The gate driver may beimplemented as a separate chip, or may be built into the TFT arraysubstrate of the touch sensitive panel 100 in the GIP type.

The gate driver may sequentially supply the gate driving signal to theplurality of gate lines included in the liquid crystal panel during thedisplay period in one frame period. The TFT included in each of theplurality of pixels may be turned on according to the gate drivingsignal.

The data driver may convert the digital RGB image data, supplied fromthe timing controller, into analog image signals, namely, RGB datavoltages. Also, the data driver may respectively supply the datavoltages to the plurality of data lines at a time when the TFT of eachpixel is turned according to the gate driving signal, based on the datacontrol signal DCS from the timing controller.

Data voltages may be respectively supplied to a plurality of pixelsconnected to each of the plurality of gate lines disposed in the touchsensitive panel 100. That is, when a first gate driving signal issupplied to a first gate line, data voltages which are to berespectively supplied to a plurality of pixels connected to the firstgate line may be supplied to the plurality of data lines. Likewise, whena second gate driving signal is supplied to a second gate line, datavoltages which are to be respectively supplied to a plurality of pixelsconnected to the second gate line may be supplied to the plurality ofdata lines.

Data voltages may be respectively supplied to the plurality of pixels,and the common voltage (Vcom) may be supplied to the plurality of touchelectrodes 110, thereby displaying an image. The data driver maygenerate the common voltage (Vcom) and supply the common voltage (Vcom)to the plurality of touch electrodes 110 via the touch signal lines 120.As another example, the touch driver 200 may generate the common voltage(Vcom) and supply the common voltage (Vcom) to the plurality of touchelectrodes 110 via the touch signal lines 120.

The touch driver 200 may include a signal generator, which generates thetouch driving signal supplied to the plurality of touch electrodes 110,and a sensing unit that executes a touch algorithm, based on a touchsignal received from each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110.

Moreover, the touch driver 200 may include a plurality of multiplexers210 having an input-to-output ratio of N:1 for decreasing the number ofchannels of the touch driver 200. The plurality of multiplexers 210 maybe disposed between input/output terminals of the touch driver 200 and aplurality of touch sensing lines 120, thereby decreasing the totalnumber of the channels of the touch driver 200 by 1/N.

The touch driver 200 may supply the touch driving signal to theplurality of touch electrodes 110 during the touch period, based on thesync signal supplied from the timing controller. In this case, the touchdriving signal applied to the touch electrodes 110 may be generated invarious forms such as a square-wave pulse, a sine wave, a triangularwave, etc. Subsequently, the touch driver 200 may sense the capacitancecharged into each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110. The touchdriver 200 may determine whether there is a touch and may detect atouched position, based on the capacitance charged into each of theplurality of touch electrodes 110.

Hereinabove, the touch driver 200 and the display driver 300 have beendescribed as being separately implemented, but are not limited thereto.In other embodiments, the touch driver 200 and the display driver 300may be integrated and implemented as one body.

FIG. 5 illustrates a touch sensitive apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention and is a diagram illustrating anarrangement structure of a touch electrode and a touch signal line.

Referring to FIG. 5, first to third touch electrodes 112 a to 112 c ofall a plurality of touch electrodes 110 are illustrated. Also, first tofourth touch signal lines 122 a to 122 d of all a plurality of touchsignal lines 120 are illustrated.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention, each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 maybe provided in a mesh form, and thus, an internal load deviation of eachof the plurality of touch electrodes 10 is reduced, and a load deviationbetween the plurality of touch electrodes is reduced.

To provide a detailed description, each of the first to third touchelectrodes 112 a to 112 c may include a plurality of slits 114. A slit114 is an opening or hole in the touch electrodes 112 a to 112 c and maybe surrounded by the touch electrodes 112 a to 112 c. The plurality ofslits 114 may be provided by patterning the first to third touchelectrodes 112 a to 112 c having a plate shape, and the first to thirdtouch electrodes 112 a to 112 c may have a mesh form due to theplurality of slits 114. In this case, the plurality of slits 114 may bedisposed in a non-display area so as not to affect an operation ofgenerating an electric field with the pixel electrode in displaydriving.

Moreover, each of the touch signal lines 120 may be disposed to overlapthe plurality of slits 114. As described above, since each of the touchsignal lines 120 is disposed to overlap the plurality of slits 114, aload of each touch electrode is reduced, and an overlap capacitancebetween the touch signal line and the touch electrode is reduced.Accordingly, a degree to which image quality is degraded due to theoverlap capacitance is reduced.

The plurality of touch electrodes 110 and the plurality of touch signallines 120 may be disposed to overlap each other with an insulation layertherebetween. Each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 may beconnected to one or more touch signal lines 120.

For example, the first touch electrode 112 a may be connected to thefirst touch signal line 122 a through a plurality of contacts CNT. Inthis case, the first touch signal line 122 a may be connected to thefirst touch electrode 112 a, but may be insulated from the other touchelectrodes.

The second touch electrode 112 b may be connected to the second touchsignal line 122 b through a plurality of contacts CNT. In this case, thesecond touch signal line 122 b may be connected to the second touchelectrode 112 b, but may be insulated from the other touch electrodes.

The third touch electrode 112 c may be connected to the third touchsignal line 122 c through a plurality of contacts CNT. In this case, thethird touch signal line 122 c may be connected to the third touchelectrode 112 c, but may be insulated from the other touch electrodes.

In the drawing, one touch electrode may be connected to one touch signalline, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, one touch electrode may be connected to two or more touchsignal lines. If one touch electrode is connected to a plurality oftouch signal lines, a load of each touch electrode is reduced.

The plurality of touch signal lines 120 may be respectively connected tothe channels of the touch driver 200. Therefore, the touch drivingsignal output from the touch driver 200 may be applied to and chargedinto each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110. Also, the touchdriver 200 may sense an amount of electric charge charged into each ofthe plurality of touch electrodes 110 by using the plurality of touchsignal lines 120.

The touch sensitive apparatus according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention including the above-described elements decreases aload of each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110, thereby enhancingimage quality. Also, the touch sensitive apparatus according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention reduces a load deviationbetween the plurality of touch electrodes 110, thereby enhancing imagequality.

FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the touch sensitive apparatus according tothe first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagramillustrating an arrangement structure of the touch electrode and thetouch signal line illustrated in FIG. 5. In the following description,details which are the same as or similar to the details described abovewith reference to FIG. 5 are not repeated or will be briefly described.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the touch sensitive apparatus according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality oftouch electrodes 110 may be provided in a mesh form, and thus, aninternal load deviation of each of the plurality of touch electrodes 10is reduced, and a load deviation between the plurality of touchelectrodes is reduced.

Each of the first to third touch electrodes 112 a to 112 c may include aplurality of slits 114. The plurality of slits 114 may be disposed in anon-display area.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the plurality of slits114 may be disposed in an area where a thin film transistor (TFT) Tdriving a corresponding pixel P is disposed. To provide an additionaldescription, the area where the TFT T is disposed may not be covered bythe touch electrodes.

Each of the first to third touch electrodes 112 a to 112 c may include aplurality of unit touch electrodes UT. Each of the plurality of unittouch electrodes UT may correspond to the pixel P.

Each of the first to third touch electrodes 112 a to 112 c may include aplurality of first bridges B1 and a plurality of second bridges B2. Thefirst bridges B1 and the second bridges B2 may electrically connect theunit touch electrodes UT adjacent to each other. Particularly, each ofthe first bridges B1 may electrically connect two unit touch electrodesUT which are adjacent to each other along a corresponding gate line.Each of the second bridges B2 may electrically connect two unit touchelectrodes UT which are adjacent to each other along a correspondingdata line.

To provide an additional description, the first bridges B1 may bedisposed to overlap the gate lines or to be parallel to the gate lines.The second bridges B2 may be disposed to overlap the data lines or to beparallel to the data lines.

Moreover, the plurality of touch signal lines 120 may respectively bedisposed to overlap the plurality of slits 114. The unit touchelectrodes may be spaced from each other by the second bridges, and thetouch signal lines 120 may be disposed along an area X which is providedbetween the unit touch electrodes by the second bridges B2. As describedabove, since the plurality of touch signal lines 120 are respectivelydisposed to overlap the plurality of slits 114, a load in each of thetouch electrodes is reduced, and an overlap capacitance between acorresponding touch signal line and a corresponding touch electrode isreduced. Accordingly, image quality is prevented from being degraded dueto the overlap capacitance.

FIG. 7 illustrates a touch sensitive apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention and is a diagram illustrating anarrangement structure of a touch electrode, a touch signal line, and aconnecting line.

Referring to FIG. 7, first and second touch electrodes 116 a and 116 bof a plurality of touch electrodes 110 are illustrated. Each touchelectrode 110 includes multiple touch electrode lines made from ITO (ITOLine). The ITO lines extend in the horizontal direction and are parallelto each other. Also, first to fourth touch signal lines 124 a to 124 dof a plurality of touch signal lines 120 are illustrated. Also, aplurality of first connecting lines 126 a and a plurality of secondconnecting lines 126 b among all connecting lines for reducing a load ofeach of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 are illustrated. The touchsignal lines 120 and the connecting lines 126 extend in a verticaldirection and are perpendicular to and intersect the ITO lines.

In the touch sensitive apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention, the plurality of touch electrodes 110 and theplurality of touch signal lines 120 may be disposed to overlap eachother with an insulation layer therebetween. Each of the plurality oftouch electrodes 110 may be connected to one or more touch signal lines120 through a plurality of first contacts CNT1 at different locations.

Moreover, the first and second connecting lines 126 a and 126 b may bedisposed to overlap each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110, andeach of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 may be connected to aplurality of connecting lines 126 through a second contact CNT2. Aconnecting line 126 is a line of conductive material that connectsdifferent ITO lines of a touch electrode 110 to each other. Byconnecting together different ITO lines, the connecting lines 126reduces an internal load deviation of each of the touch electrodes 110,and a load deviation between the plurality of touch electrodes 110 isreduced.

For example, the first touch electrode 116 a may be connected to thefirst touch signal lines 124 a through a plurality of contacts CNT1. Forthe first touch electrode 116 a, each contact CNT1 connects a single ITOline to a first touch signal line 124 a. In this case, the first touchsignal line 124 a may be connected to the first touch electrode 116 a,but may be insulated from the other touch electrodes 116.

The second touch electrode 116 b may be connected to the second touchsignal line 124 b through a plurality of contacts CNT1. For the secondtouch electrode 116 b, each contact CNT1 connects a single ITO line tothe second touch signal line 124 b. In this case, the second touchsignal line 124 b may be connected to the second touch electrode 116 b,but may be insulated from the other touch electrodes.

Although not shown, a third touch electrode may be connected to thethird touch signal line 124 c through a plurality of contacts CNT1. Inthis case, the third touch signal line 124 c may be connected to thethird touch electrode, but may be insulated from the other touchelectrodes.

In the drawing, one touch electrode 110 may be connected to one touchsignal line, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, one touch electrode may be connected to two or more touchsignal lines.

The plurality of touch signal lines 120 may be respectively connected tothe channels of the touch driver 200. Therefore, the touch drivingsignal output from the touch driver 200 may be applied to and chargedinto each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110. Also, the touchdriver 200 may sense an amount of electric charge charged into each ofthe plurality of touch electrodes 110 by using the plurality of touchsignal lines 120.

A plurality of connecting lines 126 may be disposed to overlap each ofthe plurality of touch electrodes 110. The plurality of first connectinglines 126 a may be disposed to overlap the first touch electrodes 116 a.The first touch electrode 116 a may be connected to the first connectinglines 126 a through a plurality of second contacts CNT2. For the firsttouch electrode 116 a, each contact CNT2 connects a single ITO line to asingle first touch signal line 124 a.

Here, the plurality of first connecting lines 126 a may be disposed neara plurality of touch signal lines 124 a to 124 d. As described above,the first touch electrode 116 a may be connected to the first touchsignal line 124 a through the plurality of first contacts CNT1, and thefirst touch electrode 116 a may be connected to the plurality of firstconnecting lines 126 a through the plurality of second contacts CNT2,thereby decreasing a load of the first touch electrode 116 a. Also, aposition-based load deviation that occurs in the first touch electrode116 a is reduced.

The plurality of second connecting lines 126 b may be disposed tooverlap the second touch electrode 116 b. The second touch electrode 116b may be connected to the second connecting line 126 b through aplurality of second contacts CNT2. For the second touch electrode 116 b,each contact CNT2 connects a single ITO line to a single second touchsignal line 124 b.

Here, the plurality of second connecting lines 126 b may be disposednear the plurality of touch signal lines 124 a to 124 d. As describedabove, the second touch electrode 116 b may be connected to the secondtouch signal line 124 b through the plurality of first contacts CNT1,and the second touch electrode 116 b may be connected to the pluralityof second connecting lines 126 b through the plurality of secondcontacts CNT2, thereby decreasing a load of the second touch electrode116 b. Also, a position-based load deviation that occurs in the secondtouch electrode 116 b is reduced.

The plurality of first connecting lines 126 a may not be connected tothe plurality of second connecting lines 126 b but may be spaced apartfrom the plurality of second connecting lines 126 b. That is, theplurality of touch signal lines 124 a to 124 d should be connected tothe channels of the touch driver 200, and thus may be disposed tooverlap the other touch electrodes in addition to a touch electrodeconnected thereto. On the other hand, the plurality of first connectinglines 126 a may overlap the first touch electrode 116 a, but may notoverlap other touch electrodes. Also, the plurality of second connectinglines 126 b may overlap the second touch electrode 116 b, but may notoverlap other touch electrodes.

The touch sensitive apparatus according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention including the above-described elements decreases aload of each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110, thereby enhancingimage quality. Also, the touch sensitive apparatus according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention reduces a load deviation thatoccurs in one touch electrode 110 and between the plurality of touchelectrodes 110, thereby enhancing image quality.

In the above-described method of driving the touch sensitive apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality oftouch electrodes may be sensed through one channel of the touch driver200. Accordingly, the number of channels of the touch driver 200 isreduced, and thus, a size of the touch driver 200 is reduced, and themanufacturing cost of a touch sensitive apparatus is reduced.

FIG. 8 illustrates in detail the touch sensitive apparatus according tothe second embodiment of the present invention and is a diagramillustrating an arrangement structure of the touch electrode, the touchsignal line, and the connecting line illustrated in FIG. 7. In thefollowing description, details which are the same as or similar to thedetails described above with reference to FIG. 7 are not repeated orwill be briefly described. FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating across-sectional surface taken along line Y-Y′ of FIG. 8, andparticularly, is an exemplary diagram illustrating a lower substrate ofthe display panel 100. In FIG. 9, reference numeral “101” refers to abase substrate, reference numeral “102” refers to a gate insulationlayer, reference numeral “103” refers to a first passivation layer, andreference numeral “104” refers to a second passivation layer.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the touch sensitive apparatus according to asecond embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of touchelectrodes 110 and the plurality of touch signal lines 120 may bedisposed to overlap each other with an insulation layer therebetween.Each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 may be connected to one ormore touch signal lines 120 through a plurality of first contacts CNT1.

Moreover, the first and second connecting lines 126 a and 126 b may bedisposed to overlap each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110, andeach of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 may be connected to aplurality of connecting lines through a second contact CNT2. Therefore,an internal load deviation of each of the touch electrodes 110 isreduced, and a load deviation between the plurality of touch electrodes110 is reduced.

The connecting lines 126 a and 126 b and the touch signal lines 124 a to124 d may each be formed of metal having resistivity which is lower thanthat of each of the touch electrodes 116 a and 116 b. Therefore, a loadof each of the plurality of touch electrodes 110 is reduced, and thus,image quality is enhanced.

For example, the touch electrodes 116 a and 116 b may each be formed ofa transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and/orthe like. The connecting lines 126 a and 126 b and the touch signallines 124 a to 124 d may each be formed of metal having resistivitywhich is lower than that of ITO, for example, aluminum (Al) or may beformed of a triple layer including molybdenum (Mo), Al, and Mo.

Materials forming the connecting lines 126 a and 126 b and the touchsignal lines 124 a to 124 d may be applied to the touch signal lines 122a to 122 d applied to the first embodiment of the present invention.Therefore, the touch signal lines 122 a to 122 d applied to the firstembodiment of the present invention may have metal having resistivitywhich is lower than that of material forming the touch electrodes 112 ato 112 c.

Moreover, the touch electrodes 112 a and 112 b applied to the firstembodiment of the present invention may include a transparent conductivematerial such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and metal having resistivitywhich is lower than that of indium tin oxide (ITO). In this case, theindium tin oxide (ITO) is provided in a mesh form as shown in FIGS. 5and 6 and the metal having resistivity which is lower than the indiumtin oxide (ITO) may be formed along to the gate lines covered by theindium tin oxide (ITO) or the data lines covered by the indium tin oxide(ITO).

In the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the touchelectrodes 112 a to 112 c is provided in a mesh form. Similarly, in thetouch sensitive according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention, each of the touch electrodes 116 a and 116 b may be providedin a mesh form.

To provide a detailed description, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first touchelectrode 116 a may include a slit 134. For example, a plurality ofslits 134 may be provided by patterning the first touch electrode 116 ahaving a plate shape, and the first touch electrode 116 a may have amesh form due to the plurality of slits 134.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the first touch electrode 116a includes a plurality of ITO lines, each of the plurality of ITO linesmay include a plurality of slits 134.

In this case, each of the touch signal lines 124 a to 124 d may bedisposed to overlap the plurality of slits 134 and thin film transistorsT. Also, each of the connecting lines 126 a and 126 b may be disposed tooverlap the plurality of slits 134 and thin film transistors T.

Additionally, the connecting lines 126 a and 126 b and the touch signallines 124 a to 124 d are formed on a different metal layer than thetouch electrodes 116 a and 116 b.

Although not shown in FIG. 8, the display panel also includes data linesoriented in the same direction as the touch signal lines 120 andconnecting lines 126, and also overlapping with the touch signal lines120 and connecting lines 126. Referring to FIG. 9, data lines DL arelocated on the gate insulation layer 102 in a lower metal layer. A firstpassivation layer 103 is located over the data lines DL.

Touch signaling lines 124 and connecting lines 126 are located in anintermediate metal layer formed on the passivation layer 103. Touchsignaling line 124 a is located over and overlaps with one of the datalines DL1. The connecting line 126 b is located over and overlaps withanother data line DL2. Touch signaling line 124 b is located over andoverlaps with a further data line DL3.

An insulation layer 105 is located over the connecting lines 126 andtouch signaling lines 124. The ITO lines of the touch electrode 116 bare located over the insulation layer 105. The ITO lines are located ona different metal layer than the connecting lines 126 and touchsignaling lines 124. Connecting line 126 b is connected to the ITO linevia a contact CNT2. Touch signaling line 124 b is connected to the ITOline via a contact CNT1. Contacts CNT1 and CNT2 are located inrespective contact holes CH in the insulation layer 105.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the presentinvention, the touch sensitive apparatus reduces a load of a touchelectrode, thereby enhancing image quality.

Moreover, according to the embodiments of the present invention, thetouch sensitive apparatus reduces a load deviation of a touch electrode,thereby enhancing image quality.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensitive display apparatus comprising: atouch sensitive display panel comprising: a plurality of touchelectrodes comprising at least a first touch electrode and a secondtouch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode, the first touchelectrode including one or more bridges each connecting portions of thefirst touch electrode to each other, and the second touch electrodeincluding one or more bridges each connecting portions of the secondtouch electrode to each other; a first conductive line connected to thefirst touch electrode at a first plurality of locations and overlappingwith the one or more bridges of the first touch electrode, the firstconductive line overlapping with the second touch electrode but notbeing connected to the second touch electrode, the first touch electrodedriven with a common voltage for image display via the first conductiveline and driven with a touch driving signal for touch sensing via thefirst conductive line; and a second conductive line connected to thesecond touch electrode at a second plurality of locations andoverlapping with the one or more bridges of the second touch electrode,the second conductive line not being connected to the first touchelectrode, the second touch electrode driven with the common voltage forimage display via the second conductive line and driven with the touchdriving signal for touch sensing via the second conductive line.
 2. Thetouch sensitive display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or morebridges of the first touch electrode include one or more first bridgeseach connecting the portions of the first touch electrode in a firstdirection.
 3. The touch sensitive display apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe one or more bridges of the first touch electrode include one or moresecond bridges each connecting the portions of the first touch electrodein a second direction different from the first direction.
 4. The touchsensitive display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first conductiveline and the second conductive line also extend in the second direction.5. The touch sensitive display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstplurality of locations are at a first distance from the first conductiveline, and the second plurality of locations are at a second distancefrom the second conductive line.
 6. The touch sensitive displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second conductive line overlaps withthe first touch electrode.
 7. The touch sensitive display apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein: the touch sensitive display panel is driven by a timedivision method including a display period and a touch period; the firstconductive line and the second conductive line are supplied the commonvoltage for image display during the display period; and the firstconductive line and the second conductive line are supplied the touchdriving signal for touch sensing during the touch period.
 8. The touchsensitive display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductiveline is not overlapped with the second conductive line.
 9. A touchsensitive display apparatus comprising: a touch sensitive display panelcomprising: a plurality of pixels each including a corresponding thinfilm transistor; a plurality of touch electrodes comprising at least afirst touch electrode and a second touch electrode adjacent to the firsttouch electrode; a first conductive line connected to the first touchelectrode at a first plurality of locations and overlapping with one ormore thin film transistors of one or more of the pixels corresponding tothe first touch electrode; and a second conductive line connected to thesecond touch electrode at a second plurality of locations andoverlapping with one or more thin film transistors of one or more of thepixels corresponding to the second touch electrode.
 10. The touchsensitive display device of claim 9, wherein: the first touch electrodeis driven with a common voltage for image display via the firstconductive line and driven with a touch driving signal for touch sensingvia the first conductive line; and the second conductive line is drivenwith the common voltage for image display via the second conductive lineand driven with the touch driving signal for touch sensing via thesecond conductive line.
 11. The touch sensitive display apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein: the touch sensitive display panel is driven by a timedivision method including a display period and a touch period; the firstconductive line and the second conductive line are supplied the commonvoltage for image display during the display period; and the firstconductive line and the second conductive line are supplied the touchdriving signal for touch sensing during the touch period.
 12. The touchsensitive display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first touchelectrode includes one or more first bridges each connecting portions ofthe first touch electrode in a first direction.
 13. The touch sensitivedisplay apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first touch electrodeincludes one or more second bridges each connecting other portions ofthe first touch electrode in a second direction different from the firstdirection.
 14. The touch sensitive display apparatus of claim 13,wherein the first conductive line and the second conductive line alsoextend in the second direction.
 15. The touch sensitive displayapparatus of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of locations are at afirst distance from the first conductive line, and the second pluralityof locations are at a second distance from the second conductive line.16. The touch sensitive display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the secondconductive line overlaps with the first touch electrode.
 17. The touchsensitive display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first conductiveline is not overlapped with the second conductive line.